Milestone: Building the Future of Brooks

Brooks' new global headquarters, set to open soon in the heart of Seattle.

When Brooks Running Co. moves into its new headquarters in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood later this summer, it will mark a new era for the company.

The building, at 3400 Stone Way, will be Brooks’ first permanent home in the city and its biggest ever, measuring 80,000 square feet. The facility also will house the brand’s first retail store, to be located on the ground floor.

The new headquarters includes room to expand. Brooks, which has rapidly outgrown its temporary accommodations in Seattle, will be able to bring all its global employees, as well as its biomechanics lab, under one roof.

Features such as kinetic outdoor sculptures, bike racks, edible native plants and extra-wide spaces around the entry level are designed to make the place welcoming to the public. Brooks execs noted that the building is situated across the street from the Burke-Gilman recreation trail, which draws runners and pedestrians from across the city, and should make the retail store a magnet for consumers.

The new building is being designed according to Seattle’s City Pilot Program to encourage sustainable business design. Constructed by Skanska USA Commercial Development, it will have a green focus, reducing its water and energy usage by at least 75 percent compared with similarly sized buildings.

Lisa Picard, EVP and regional manager of Skanska’s Seattle office, said those energy targets meant Brooks had to make changes. For example, the company will replace desktop computers for more efficient laptops.

“This meant a commitment to operate differently,” Picard said. “And [Brooks] saw it as an opportunity.”